Dragons. Mermaids. Sandcastles. And a whole lot more.
Whatever sand sculptors can imagine, they can bring to life from the soft, white sands of Fort Myers Beach.
It’s a jaw-dropping spectacle that used to bring more than 50,000 people to the Beach every year. And now that spectacle finally returns next week for the long-delayed, 34th-annual American Sand Sculpting Championship .
Jacki Liszak can’t wait to see what the sand sculptors do this year. And she knows she’s not alone.
“People are planning their vacations around this event,” says Liszak, executive director of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce. “It’s so loved by so many people from all over the place.”
Sculptors from across the world will be working their magic on the beach, including people from Bulgaria, Canada, Mexico and all over the United States, says longtime co-manager Bill Knight. About 200 tons of extra sand are imported to the beach just for the championship.
It’s one of the biggest events on the island — second only to the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival, Liszak says.